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CALGARY- Up until now, there have been drugs available to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, but nothing to reverse it.

But according to a team from the University of Alberta, a drug intended for the treatment of diabetes could do just that.

The researchers found that when they gave AC253 to the brain cells of mice with Alzheimer’s, memories were restored.

Researchers are now trying to find out if the drug could prevent the onset of the disease, and are hopeful it could be used in human clinical trials within five years.

“We’re quite excited about these findings because they shed some light on the basic fundamental processes of learning and memory and Alzheimer’s disease,” explains neuroscientist Dr. Jack Jhamandas. “But [more] importantly, they tell us how the abnormalities…can be restored.”

It’s estimated that 1.4 million Canadians will suffer from dementia by 2031, without any significant research advancements.